25 research outputs found
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Tracking public interest and perceptions about smalltooth sawfish conservation in the USA using Instagram
The population of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) in the USA was listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in 2003. Based on objectives identified in the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Plan, an interdisciplinary team developed a variety of outreach efforts and products to educate the public and promote sawfish conservation. These include safe viewing, handling, release, and reporting guidelines for boaters, divers, and anglers that may interact with the species.
The usefulness of monitoring social media to track public interest and perceptions of smalltooth sawfish was investigated via Instagram posts mentioning sawfish encounters in the USA. We aimed to identify how current outreach efforts and messaging can be improved and expanded to better inform the public and promote positive change in their behaviour to further protect smalltooth sawfish.
All encounters occurred in Florida waters and the trend of sawfish‐related Instagram posts increased congruently with traditionally reported sawfish encounters from 2012 to 2019. The number of Instagram users who indicated that they reported their encounter or that any sawfish encounter should be reported has increased, suggesting outreach efforts have gained traction and that some members of the public are actively promoting sawfish conservation through encounter reporting. The overall tone, and thereby public perception of and attitude towards sawfish, was largely positive.
Though social media can be used to guide outreach initiatives and provides a platform for researchers to engage large public audiences, future research efforts should include electronic surveys within the recreational, commercial, diving, and angling communities. Additionally, social media posts should be compared with traditionally reported encounters, and media professionals working with scientists should focus on increasing the utility of social media as a way to collect encounter reports and create engaging educational content to be included with continued outreach efforts throughout the south‐eastern USA
A historical review of early entrepreneurial theatrical activity in a growing railroad center
‘Gay boy talk’ meets ‘girl talk’: HIV risk assessment assumptions in young gay men's sexual health communication with best friends
Young adults, particularly young gay men (YGM), are vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Yet, little is known about how YGM discuss sexual health issues with their friends (‘gay boy talk’). We conducted semi-structured interviews with YGM and their best friends (11 YGM/YGM dyads and 13 YGM/heterosexual female dyads). In this paper, we examine risk assessment assumptions conveyed within YGM's communication about sexual health with their friends and how, if at all, the sexual scripts guiding these assumptions may differ between YGM and young women. Findings demonstrated that, while these young adults clearly intended to support their friends and promote safer sex, they also conveyed assumptions about HIV risk assessment, especially regarding sexual partner selection, that may actually increase their friends’ risk for HIV infection. Since inaccurate HIV risk assessment assumptions were transmitted via sexual health communication between peers, it is suggested that such assumptions may need to be addressed in HIV prevention programs working with YGM and their friends. Further, gender differences were identified within the sexual scripts shared between YGM and their friends, suggesting that such interventions should be tailored to the specific needs of different friendship networks